Drums banged to the mystical sound of harmoniums and eastern chanting as Reading and Wokingham’s Sikh community joined together to celebrate the festival of Vaisakhi.

More than 2,000 worshippers paraded through East Reading and Earley, many in traditional costume, on Sunday to celebrate the occasion, which marks the start of the Sikh New Year.

The procession, known as Nagar Kirtan – neighbourhood hymn singing – started at the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Cumberland Road, Newtown, and on to the Ramgarhia Sabha Reading Gurdwara in London Road.

The route between the two temples followed Wokingham Road, Church Road and back down on to London Road via Culver Lane and Whitegates Lane.

The day began with prayers, messages of peace and religious hymns, known as Shabad Kirtan, led by five Sikhs known as the Panj Pyare from Ramgarhia Sabha Reading Gurdwara.

There, the festivities continued with a huge platter of traditional Indian vegetarian food before the procession returned to the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara.

The festival also helped to raise money for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, with collections made along the procession, during which Sikhs handed out fruit, sweets and crisps.

Vaisakhi is the holiest day of the Sikh calendar and is celebrated by more than 20 million worshippers worldwide. It is officially held on April 14, with Nagar Kirtan generally taking place two weeks later.

On this day in 1699, Sikhism was born as a collective faith when Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th Master of the Sikhs, initiated the Khalsa by baptising five Sikhs, the Panj Pyaras.

He bound them by a strict code which included unshorn hair, beard and turban, which gave them a distinct identity.

Before this, Vaisakhi was celebrated as a harvest festival across north India.

Gurpal Singh, general secretary of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, said: “Today is a very special and most important day when the Sikh year starts for us, which has both a religious and cultural significance.

“We are here to celebrate the birth of the Khalsa, meaning the pure one, and have come together to remember what happened on that day in 1699.

“By way of the procession, we are also raising an awareness of what Sikhism is about, what it stands for and turn to the wider community to learn Sikhs are peace-loving people believing in honest living.

“And for the Sikh community itself, it is a time to come together and get a feeling of brotherhood and tell our future generations about our culture and celebrate our heritage.”